Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Protecting Yourself from Bears in the Woods

Due to the rising frequency of human/grizzly bear conflicts last summer, the Alaska Department of Fish, Game, and Wildlife has been advising hikers to take extra precautions and to keep alert of bears while in the field. The Department has posted the following notice in Alaska's State Parks:

"We advise that hikers wear noisy little bells on their clothing to avoid surprising any bears. We also advise hikers to carry pepper spray with them in case of an encounter with a grizzly bear. Watch out for fresh signs of bear activity. Hikers should be able to recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear feces.

Black bear feces are smaller and contain berries and bits of squirrel fur.

Grizzly bear feces smells like pepper spray and has little bells in it."